Composite container and method of handling fluent materials

ABSTRACT

A composite container is assembled by introducing a flexible bag, in collapsed condition, into a rigid shell through an opening therein and distending the bag for all-around support by the shell by injecting inflation gas through a multi-passage conduit extending through the shell and bag openings; fluent material to be confined is thereafter admitted to the bag while simultaneously exhausting displaced gas through the same conduit means. The material can be discharged through the nozzle means by pumping or by forcing gas into the space between the shell and bag to collapse the bag; or a separate opening can be formed in the bottom of the bag. The two passages may end at the conduit means, and at least one communicates directly with an upper part of the bag to discharge displaced gas. The conduit means has a plate or bar to position the bottom of the bag within the shell.

United States Patent 1 1 3,802,470

Coleman 1 1 Apr. 9, 1974 [541 COMPOSITE commune AND METHOD OF HANDLING FLUENT MATERIALS Clarence B. Coleman, Oakland. Calif.

Filed: June 30, 1971 Appl. No.: 158,592

Related [1.8. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 599,070. Dec. 5, 1966. Pat. No. 3,590,888.

[76} Inventor:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1959 Unlhank 141/48 2,811,173 10/1957 Cunningham .1 141/48 X 3,036,683 4/1963 Loper 222/183 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1.511.824 7/1966 Germany 141/315 648863 1/1951 Great Britain 220/63 R 708,813 5/1954 Great Britain 220/63 R OTHER PUBLICATIONS German Printed Application 1.144.649 Hieri 2-1963.

Primm'y Examiner-Houston S. Beli. Jr.

Assistant Examiner-Frederick R. Schmidt Attorney, Agent. or Firm-Warren, Rubin, Brucker & Chickering 5 7] ABSTRACT A composite container is assembled by introducing a flexible bag, in coliapsed condition, into a rigid shell through an opening therein and distending the bag for all-around support by the shell by injecting inflation gas through a multi-passage conduit extending through the shell and bag openings; fluent material to be con fined is thereafter admitted to the bag while simultaneously exhausting displaced gas through the same conduit means. The material can be discharged through the nozzle means by pumping or by forcing gas into the space between the shell and bag to collapse the bag; or a separate opening can be formed in the bottom of the bag. The two passages may end at the conduit means, and at least one communicates directly with an upper part of the bag to discharge displaced gas. The conduit means has a plate or bar to position the bottom of the bag within the shell.

14 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 9 I974 SHEET 3 BF 5 COMPOSITE CONTAINER AND METHOD OF HANDLING FLUENT MATERIALS This application is a division of Ser. No. 599,070, filed Dec. 5, 1966, now US. Pat. No. 3,590,888 patented lul. ll, I971.

The invention relates to a composite container for and to a method of handling fluent material, such as liquids and pulverulent solids, for shipment or storage. More particularly, it is concerned with confining the material within an impervious bag of flexible material which bag is contained within a rigid container or shell in engagement with the inner surface thereof for structural support.

It is known to confine material within a flexible envelope which is inside of a rigid shell. Such composite containers are useful when it is desired to isolate the confined material from the ambient atmosphere regardless of whether the shell is impervious, and are sometimes used when it is desired to obviate the need to clean the inside of a drum or bottle, as well as to provide a confining wall which is inert relatively to the confined material and/or has a variable volume to limit or avoid the presence of gas in contact with the material when the container is only partly filled, e.g. while emptying the container, or for allowing tillage for thermal changes in volume of the material.

A drawback of prior composite containers of this type was the danger of rupturing the flexible wall. If the wall is distended by the material to be confined, it sometimes presses excessively large parts of the flexible wall against the shell, e.g. as folds, especially at the lower portions where the weight of the material is most effective; this prevents all of the other parts of the wall from engaging smoothly the shell wall. The unsupported parts of the flexible wall are then prone to stretching and rupturing. This danger has made it impracticable to fill such composite containers rapidly from a condition in which the flexible bag is collapsed.

On the other hand, prior containers of this type in which the bag was dilated before the introduction of the fluent material were not well suited to preventing air or other ambient gas from coming into contact with the material within the bag. It is, however, frequently desirable to confine fluent material out of contact with air or other gas that can have a deleterious effect on the material. Further, prior arrangements for venting from the bag the gas which is displaced by the admitted material were not always suitable and often limited the rate at which the material could be introduced if entrainment of the material, especially when pulverulent, by the escaping gas was to be avoided.

Still another drawback of many prior constructions was the difficulty of installing the flexible bag within the shell with facility. This has heretofore been done by using an open-top shell and fitting the bag therein before closing the shell. It is often desirable to confine the fluent material within a new bag which is clean and compatible with the stored material and/or may contain or be lined with a fresh coating of a treating agent, as for protecting the bag against the material or to dissolve in or to react with the material. The utility of such a composite container could be enhanced by arranging the bag for rapid introduction into the shell and providing means by which the bag can be easily installed within the whell without manipulation of the bag inside of the shell.

Finally, in prior composite container the arrangements for the introduction into the bag of a device for conditioning the material {conditioning being herein used to include testing), such as a heater, cooler, stirrer, injection tube, thermometer, or the like, were lacking or awkward to use. There is, however, frequent need to introduce such an instrument into the bag for agitating, circulating or treating the confined material or for controlling its temperature.

Now according to this invention, there is provided a composite container for fluent, non-gaseous material which includes a rigid container or shell having at least one opening and a flexible bag which can be introduced through a shell opening in collapsed condition, which bag includes conduit means providing at least one passageway which is in direct communication with an upper part of the bag, for admitting inflation gas into the bag. it is preferable that the conduit means includes two passageways, one for inflating and charging'the flu ent material into the bag through, the other for'simultaneously discharging the inflation gas from the bag. The rigid shell, which may be gas-tight or gas-pervious, provided with holes, has means such as the said holes or, when gas-tight, a valved opening or a coupling fitting, through which gas usually air can escape from the space between the outside of the bag and the inside of the shell, and gas can enter the space when the bag is collapsed during efflux of the confined material. The material can be discharged from the bag through the same conduit means that was used to admit the material; however, in some embodiments a separate, initially closed, discharge opening is provided or is later formed in the bag. It may be noted that the bag is flexible but preferably not significantly stretchable, e.g. made of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylchloride, or other polymeric material, and has a shape to fit against the inside of the shell for structural support thereby. The bag may be as large as or larger than the container, so that substantially all of the bag is supported.

The conduit means is sealed to the bag at an opening of the bag which may be situated as desired, e.g. at the top or near the bottom, and this seal may be permanent or temporary, e.g. includes adhesives or a mechanical clamp. The conduit means may, in one embodiment, include as the first passageway a dip tube that communicates with a lower part of the bag interior and leads out of the shell at the top, and this dip tube can be verti cally adjustable and receive pump means to empty the contents of the bag; it may also terminate near the shell wall, either at the top or at the bottom. The second passageway is arranged to communicate directly with an upper part of the bag interior and may, for example, take the form of a mere opening in a plug fitted to the shell wall, or a tube situated alongside of or concentrically with the dip tube and provided with one or more openings, or may be a riser tube when the opening in the shell is situated near the bottom. Usually the conduit means extends through the same opening in the shell wall as that through which the collapsed bag is inserted, but a different opening may be used.

The conduit means optionally has an access opening for the introduction into the bag of a conditioning device, which opening can be titted with a closure to adapt the container for shipment.

The method according to the invention includes the assembly of the composite container by introducing the bag, in collapsed condition and together with the conduit means, into the rigid shell through an opening in the shell, and admitting an inflation gas through a multi-passage conduit means which extends into the bag and through a shell opening to dilate the bag and cause it to lie against the inner surfaces of the shell, while gas is exhausted from the space between the bag and the shell. Thereafter the fluent material is introduced through the one passage of the conduit means directly or after fall by gravity to the lower part of the bag while gas which is displaced by the material is discharged through another separate passageway from the upper part of the bag. When the desired amount of material has been charged the bag can be sealed, either at the conduit means or after removing the conduit means from the bag.

Because the inflation gas acts on all internal parts of the bag, all parts are rapidly brought into engagement with the shell and the danger of rupture by stretching the bag is obviated. This danger would exist if liquid were injected directly into a collapsed bag. Further, because the bag is fully distended before the fluent mate rial is introduced, the material can also be charged at a high rate without danger of rupture. In all embodiments, the bag is structurally supported by the shell at least during introduction of the material and subsequent shipment or storage.

It may be noted that the term non-gaseous fluent material" includes materials that may have a vapor pressure sufficient to generate some gas and/or materials that at some temperatures are so viscous as to be es sentially non-fluent.

The invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and illustrating certain preferred embodiments, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of one embodiment of the composite container;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan of the container;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic vertical sectional view, on a reduced scale, showing the discharge of material from the container;

FIG. 4 is an elevation of an accessory tube for causing agitation;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevation view of piping for causing circulation of the material;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the bag and conduit means according to a second embodiment, taken on the broken line 6-6 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 7 is a plan of FIG. 6, the pump and agitator being omitted;

FIG. 8 is a vertical section of the bag constructed according to third embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic plan of the bag in collapsed condition and showing, in dotted lines, partial distension according to a fourth embodiment, the outline of the rigid shell appearing;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are elevations of the fourth embodiment, shown in charging and discharging positions, respectively;

FIG. 12 is a vertical section of a fifth embodiment, before distension of the bag and adjustment of the bag bottom;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary section of the lower part of FIG. 12 showing the container just before admission of inflation gas;

FIG. 14 is an elevation of the container of FIG. 12 after distension of the bag;

FIG. 15 is an elevation of a removable filling assembly for the fifth embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a vertical sectional view ofa sixth embodiment, wherein the conduit means enters the shell at its bottom; and

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary elevation of the plug on an enlarged scale.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the composite container comprises a rigid shell 15, e.g. impervious to gas and formed on a cylindrical sheet metal side wall and top and bottom heads 16 and I7, resting on a platform 18. The head 16 has a central opening 19 the edge of which is shaped to receive a closure plate 20 in sealed relation. The head 16 may have an upstanding collar 21 at the opening, the top of the collar being rounded to seal against a head 22 on the closure plate and to provide an anchor edge for hold-down means, such as a contractible drum band 23.

Welded to the plate 20 at an opening therein is a vertical tube 24 the bottom of which carries a circular plate 25 and optionally having an annular plate 26 welded near the top. This tube has axially spaced openings 27 between these plates, at least one opening being situated at the bottom and at least one near the top. A flexible bag 28, having a top edge defining an opening, is sealed to the tube 24 just above the plate 26, e.g. by a clamping band 29. The top of the tube 24 is fitted to a junction or tee 30 carrying at the top a plate 31 having two openings: one of these is fitted with a nipple 32 which is internally or externally threaded to receive a closure; the other carries a dip tube 33 which extends almost to the bottom of the tube 24 and is in communication with the interior of the bag 28 at its bottom through the lowermost opening 27. The top of the dip tube carries a valve 34 to which a conduit can be coupled. The tee 30 further has a plate 35 through which it communicates with piping connected to a pressurerelief valve 36 and a valve 37 to which valve a conduit can be coupled. The bag 28 can be collapsed to lie within the confines of the plates 25 and 26 and these plates have diameters less than that of the opening 19, whereby all parts below the closure plate 20 can be inserted through said opening.

The plate 20 has openings to which are fitted, respectively, a valve 38 and a pressure relief valve 39. These communicate with the space within the shell 15 and outside of the bag 28.

The composite container is assembled by inserting the tube 24, with the bag 28 collapsed and situated closely adjacently to the tube, through the opening 19 and securing the plate 20 to the head by the band 23. The tubes 24 and 33 collectively constitute the conduit means, the latter providing the dip tube that communicates directly with the bottom of the bag interior and the former defining a passageway which communicates separately with the top of the bag interior. To distend the bag, the valve 38 is opened, the nipple 32 and valve 34 are closed, and the valve 37 is connected to a source of inflation gas under superatmospheric pressure and opened, to admit a blast of inflation gas. (Alternatively, the valve 37 may be closed and the gas admitted through the valve 34 or the nipple 32.) The inflation gas dilates the bag to the position shown, in engagement with the shell. The relief valve 36 limits the inflation pressure and thereby is a safeguard for the shell. Most of the air which is initially present within the shell is exhausted by escape through the open valve 38,

which may then be shut to prevent re-entry of air and sagging of the top of the bag to any considerable distance from its position shown; however, such sagging is usually minimal and not always objectionable, and the valve 38 may be left open.

The plate 25 maintains the bag bottom near the head 17 and avoids the danger of damaging the bag bottom by the end of the tube 24 during insertion and while in position. It is also useful during discharge. Further, the plate 26 aids in causing the top of the bag to unfold readily and assume the radial position shown.

The valve 34 is coupled to a source of the fluent material to be confined and the valve 37 is opened to the ambient atmosphere or, when the inflation gas is to be collected, to a suitable receiver. The fluent material is then forced into the distended bag through the dip tube 33, e.g. at atmospheric or superatmospheric pressure, and the inflation gas is displaced upwardly with little or no mixing with the material. The displaced gas is exhausted by flow through the openings 27, the tube 24 and the valve 37. When filling is completed the valves 34 and 37 are shut and disconnected from the material source and reservoir, and the container is ready for storage or shipment. I

It may be noted that when it is desired to avoid contact of the fluent material with air, the collapsed bag may initially contain a gas that is inert or not deleterious to the material, either the same as or compatible with the inflation gas, the valves 34 and 37 and the nipple 32 being initially closed. Similarly, such a gas may be used as the inflation gas. Examples are nitro gen, helium, carbon dioxide, ammonia, methane, air, etc, depending upon the nature of the fluent material. A small amount of the inflation gas usually remains within the bag after it is charged with the fluent material. During shipment or storage, thermal expansion of the contents of the bag and shell may result in small movements in the top of the bag, changing the volume of the air space above it.

The material is discharged from the bag according to any of several techniques. In one, illustrated in HQ. 3, a gas such as air is admitted under superatmospheric pressure through the valve 38 which is coupled to a source of gas. The valve 37 and nipple 32 being shut, the valve 34 is coupled to a receiver and opened. The gas entering the shell under pressure collapses the bag and forces the fluent material to flow out through the tube 33. The relief valve 39 protects the shell against excessive pressure from gas admitted through the valve 38. This technique is especially suitable when the material is liquid.

According to another technique, the valve 38 is opened to admit atmospheric air and the receiver which is connected to the valve 34 is evacuated (or a suction pump is applied to the valve 34) to draw out the material through the dip tube 33.

When the material is solid, the shell and bag of the present invention are also advantageously employed provided it is free-flowing or fluffy. When it is not freeflowing aeration or fluidization of the material can often be used to achieve this characteristic. For example, aerating gas may be advantageously admitted to the bottom of the contents of the bag and shell by using the accessory tube 40 shown in FIG. 4, which is secured within the tube 24 by threading the external lug 41 to the interior of the nipple 32 so as to position the angularly directed, open discharge end 42 opposite one of the bottom openings 27. The aerating gas is supplied through a conduit, not shown, coupled to the threaded coupling 43. The aerating gas is discharged together with the material.

Because the plate 25 maintains the central part of the bag depressed and away from the intake to the tube 33, substantially all of the material can enter the lowermost hole 27 and flow upwards through the tube 33. Only the amount in the shallow space between the top of the plate 25 and the bottom of the tube 33 is not exhausted.

It is evident that the dip tube 33 can serve as a gauge by making it vertically adjustable within the plate 31 and, if desired, mounting the pump at the bottom of the dip tube. The user can then draw out material until its level within the bag is just below the bottom of the tube 33.

During storage or shipment the cap closing the nipple 32 can be removed and a conditioning device, such as a stirrer, heater or cooler, inserted into the tube 24. Be cause of the holes 27, a part of the material will fill this tube. For example, a propeller causing vertical movement through the tube 24 will cause circulation through the part of the bag outside of the tube. Similarly, a heater or cooler will cause thermal circulation.

Circulation of the material or treatment can also be effected by bubbling a gas through it. For this purpose. the tube 40 of FIG. 4 is connected to inject a gas into the part of the bag outside of the tube 24. The injected gas escapes through the valve 37, which may be opened slightly and connected to a receiver, or, when the gas is air andfor used in small amounts, through the relief valve 36.

External circulation of the confined material can also be effected by drawing out material through the tube 33, and pumping it back through the valve 37, if desired after treating it to alter its temperature. An exemplary device for this is shown in FIG. 5, which shows a coupler 44 adapted to be connected to the valve 34, a pump 45 and a coupler 46 adapted to be connected to the valve 37. A treater 47 can be connected in this circuit, e.g. a device through which a coolant or heating fluid is passed via a line 48.

Referring to H68. 6 and 7, wherein the shell is omitted and only the parts attached to the closure plate are shown, the device includes a closure plate 129 having a bead 122 for sealing engagement to the top head of a shell as previously described for the shell l5. The plate has a circular opening to which is welded in sealed relation a cup member 150 to the outside of which the flexible bag 128 is sealed by a clamping band 129. The base of the cup member carries in sealed relation thereto: a sleeve 133a to which is threaded a tube 133 extending to the bag bottom and having a lateral opening 133b at the bottom; a sleeve 124a to which is threaded a tube 124 extending to the bag bottom and having openings 127 at different levels; a coupling nippie 135; and, optionally, a vent nipple 136. The tubes 124 and 133 have flat plates at their lower ends for smooth engagement with the bag. The plate further has a vent nipple 138. The nipples 135, 136 and 138 are threaded to receive closures.

Coupled to the sleeve 1330, is a pipe 151 which is connected to a pump 152 having a second pipe 153. Usually the pump is driven to discharge liquid from bag interior, and then the pipes I51 and 153 are suction and discharge pipes, respectively. However, a reversible pump may be used. or one having a flow in the opposite direction may be substituted. A treating device of any type can be inserted into the tube 124. Illustrative is a hand-operated agitator which comprises a plunger 154 fitting closely the inside of the tube and situated between the openings 127, which is connected by a rod 155 to a handle 156. By moving the plunger up and down the material is caused to flow through the holes 127 and circulation of the material within the bag is effected.

According to different uses, the nipple 138 may be left open to the atmosphere or be connected to a valve and a pressure-relief valve, as described for the valves 38 and 39. However, the nipple 138 can also be shut with a cap during shipment and storage.

The embodiment being described is adapted for storage and shipment with the pump and, usually, the agitator removed, these being used only during charging or emptying or at the site of use to condition the material. To assemble the container, the conduit means, comprising the cup member 150 and parts carried thereby, with the bag 128 collapsed about the tubes, is inserted into a shell and the plate 120 is sealed thereto. The bag is inflated by admitting inflation gas through one of the fitting in the cup member, e.g. through the nipple 135 (or through the sleeve 124a, the agitator being absent) while the nipple 138 is open. This nipple may then be closed and the fluent material is charged through the nipple 133a and tube 133 to the bottom of the bag, while displaced inflation gas is exhausted through the vent nipple 135. Charging can be effected by gravity flow or by a pump. The upper ends of the sleeves and nipples in the cup are then closed. Preferably a pressure relief valve is connected to the nipple 136. The container is now ready for storage or shipment. I

Any treating device, such as the plunger 154, can be connected as desired. Further, circulation can be effected as described for the first embodiment in connection with FIG. by connecting the discharge pipe 153 to the nipple 135, or the pipe 40 of FIG. 4 can be inserted into the tube 124 to inject a gas, which is vented through the nipple 135.

The container can be discharged as described previously, using any of the techniques, e.g. applying air under pressure to the nipple 138 and discharging through the tube 133, and/or using the pump 152 to draw off the material.

FIG. 8 shows a third embodiment wherein the conduit means is a plug-like structure 220 adapted to be threaded into an opening in the shell head. The plug has at least a pair of bores 224 and 233a, the latter being larger and having threaded therein the upper end ofa dip tube 233. This tube carries an enlarged flat, circular plate 255 at its bottom end and has a lateral hole 233b at the bottom. Both bores can be closed by threaded caps 257 and 258. The flexible bag 228 is sealed about the lower end of the plug 220 by a sealing band 229, which has an external diameter smaller than the external threads 220a, so that the bag, collapsed against the tube 233, can be inserted into an internally threaded opening in the upper head of a shell, e.g. constructed as is shown in FIGS. 1 or 6 except for the threaded opening. However, this embodiment is especially designed for use in the embodiment of FIGS. 9, l0 and 11, and will be described in greater detail hereinafter. It may be noted however, that the bag of FIG.

8 can be inflated through either bore, preferably the bore 224, and filled and emptied through the tube 233 and bore 233a, using any of the previously described techniques. Displaced inflation gas is exhausted through the bore 224. A treating device can be introduced through the bore 224 for immersion in the fluent material.

Referring to FIGS. 9 through 11, the composite container includes a cylindrical shell 215 having upper and lower heads 216 and 217, the former having an internally threaded opening situated adjacently one side for receiving the plug 220. This head further has an internally threaded vent opening, normally closed by a plug 238, advantageously situated diametrically opposite the hole for the plug 220, although this is not an absolute requirement.

To assemble the container, the bag 228 is initially folded as shown in solid lines in FIG. 9, to lie adjacently about and principally to one side of the tube 233, and then inserted into the shell, the plug 220 being then tightened. The plug 238 being removed to vent the shell, a blast of pressurized inflation gas is admitted through the bore 224. The bag is thereby dilated, passing first through the form shown in dotted lines and eventually assuming the shape of the shell 215. The plug 238 may then be replaced (or a pressure-relief valve mounted in its place). (The folding shown in FIG. 9 may be used also for the prior embodiments, but in the first embodiment it is preferred to have the collapsed bag lie symmetrically about the tube 24.)

The container is charged while in the upright position shown in FIG. 10 by attaching the bore 233a to a source of the fluent material and the bore 224 to the atmosphere or to a receiver for the displaced inflation gas. The container is filled by gravity flow or under pressure. The plugs 257 and 258 are then replaced and the container can be stored or shipped. A pressure relief valve or other safety means may be provided on one of the plug bores if the plug 238 is not replaced by such means.

The container may be emptied in the rotated position of FIG. 11, in which the plug 220 is depressed. In this variant the contents are discharged by gravity through either of the bores, the bore 224 being used at least at the end of the operation to drain the last part of the contents. During the emptying operations the plug 238 or its replacement is removed to permit the bag to collapse, as is indicated in FIG. 11.

FIGS. 12 through 15 show a fifth embodiment in which the bag is filled from the top but emptied from the bottom, and is useful for moving and storing material within a plant. The shell 315 has an upper head 316 and a frusto-conical bottom 317 and is supported on a support structure 318 which may have casters. The top head has a vent nipple 338. The bottom head 317 has a central opening fitted with a hinged door 317a, although a sliding plate may also be advantageously employed. The head 316 has a central opening adapted to receive a flexible bag 328 in collapsed condition, the bag being longer than the shell and having an upper end defining an opening which is sealed to an upstanding collar on the head 316 by a clamping band 329. Adapted to fit over the sealed edge of the bag is a cap plate 320, shown in FIG. 15. This plate is provided with suitable means for retaining it in sealed and mechanically firm relation to the bag while being rapidly releas able, such means being represented by radial screws 323. The plate has welded thereto a short tube 333 which is open at the bottom and has its upper end connected to a flexible hose 359. The plate further has a vent tube 324 connected to a second flexible hose 360. The tubes 324 and 333, together with the plate 320, collectively form the conduit means. The bag 328 is open also at the bottom, but is tied to close the bottom by a cord 36].

In assembling the composite container the bag is inserted into the shell from the top in collapsed condition and secured by the band 329, the bottom end being closed as shown in FIG. 12. The bottom end is then pushed up into the shell and the door 317a is closed and latched, as appears in FIG. 13. The closure plate 320 is then attached to the top of the shell and sealed to the bag. A blast of inflation gas is then admitted through the hose 360 to inflate the bag and bring it into engagement with the inner surface of the shell 315. The bag is thereby supported by the shell on all sides. Air initially present in the space between the bag and the shell wall escaped through the nipple 338, which may then be closed with a cap. Plate 320 can be removed, and the bag will be held in place against the shell, if it is imperforate, due to the vacuum resulting from evacuation of the air from between the shell and the bag. The container may then be directly filled through the top opening. Aiternatively and when an inert atmosphere is desired or the shell is perforated, the material is admitted via the hose 359 and tube 333 into the dilated bag, displaced inflation air being exhausted through the tube 324 and hose 360. The plate 320 can then be removed and, if desired, a cover 362 attached, as appears in FIG. 14. The vessel is now ready for storage or movement.

To empty the bag the door 317a is opened and the cord 36] is removed (or the bag can be cut) while over a receiver, permitting the material to fall out by gravity.

The embodiment of FIGS. 12 through 15 is especially suited to confining solid material. However, it can also be used when the fluent material is liquid.

FIGS. 16 and 17 show an embodiment wherein the shell 415 has an opening in its side near the bottom head 417 through which the bag 428 is inserted in collapsed condition, wrapped about a guide rod 425, and the upper head 416 has an opening provided with a closure plate 462 which seals the top. The plate 462 has an internally threaded vent opening that can be closed by a plug 438. The conduit means which extends through the bottom opening is constituted by a plug 420 having a bolting flange 463 and a pair of parallel bores which receive short tubes 424a and 433a in sealed relation the bag being sealed to this plug by a band 429. The outer ends of these short tubes provide coupling means for attaching hoses leading respectively to a source of inflation gas and a source of fluent material or a receiver therefor.

The bag contains a flexible tube 424 of sufficient stiffness to remain open which is connected at one end by a cord or top 464 to a part of the bag which is near the top when distended. This is attached during construction of the bag. The other end of this tube is fitted to the inner end of the tube 4244. The inner end of tube 433a is connected to one end of a tube 433 which extends through a small horizontal distance and is open toward the bottom. The bar 425 is rigidly carried by the tube 433 (or attached directly to the plug 420).

In assembling the container of FIGS. 16 and 17, the collapsed bag is inserted with the plug 420 at the bottom of the shell and the plug is secured to the shell by its bolting flange 463. The guide rod 425 guides the bag into the shell and maintains it in position during subsequent inflation. The plug 438 being removed, a blast of inflation gas is introduced through the tubes 424 and 424a to inflate the bag to the position shown. The plug 438 may then be replaced and the bag is filled with fluent material through the tubes 433a and 433, while displaced gas is discharged through the tubes 424 and 4240. The bag is emptied through the tubes 433 and 4331: after removing the plug 438. The charging and emptying operations may follow any ofthe techniques previously described, and pressure-responsive valves may be provided in lieu of the plug 438 andfor at the outside of the plug 420 as previously described.

It is, of course, possible to introduce the collapsed bag through an opening in the shell other than that through which the conduit means extends. For example, in the last embodiment the bag can be introduced through the opening at the top of the shell, which can further be used to inspect the position of the bag.

It will be noted that in the several views the last two digits of the reference number when alike, denote corresponding parts or parts performing corresponding functions.

It may be noted that the flexible bag can be inserted into the rigid shell at the factory and inflated either there or at the site of filling, or that the bag and conduit means sealed thereto can be shipped from the factory outside of the shell.

I claim:

1. Method of handling fluent, non-gaseous material which comprises the steps of inserting a flexible bag in collapsed condition into a rigid shell through an opening therein, injecting inflation gas into the bag through conduit means, said conduit means having at least two separate passageways, while exhausting gas from between said bag and shell and thereby distending the bag into engagement with the interior of the shell, and thereafter introducing said material into the distended bag through a first passageway of said conduit means, while exhausting from an upper part of the bag said inflation gas through a second passageway of said conduit means, said inflation gas being displaced by the entering material, and conditioning and circulating said material introduced into the bag to achieve uniformity of said material.

2. Method as defined in claim 1 wherein said material is discharged from the bag by opening the bottom of the bag while the top thereof is closed, and discharging the material from the bag by gravity.

3. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said step of circulating is performed by agitating said material.

4. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said step of circulating is performed thermally by changing the temperature of said material.

5. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein further said material is aerated by admitting aerating gas through said conduit means to the bottom of the bag and discharging said aerating gas together with said material to achieve a free-flowing state of said material.

6. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said step of circulating is provided by injecting circulation gas through a second conduit means into the bag, bubbling said circulation gas throughout said material, and releasing the circulation gas through a vent formed in the top of the bag and said rigid shell.

7. Apparatus for handling non-gaseous fluent material comprising:

a rigid shell formed with at least one opening in a wall thereof;

a bag having a flexible wall and insertable into said shell in collapsed condition through said opening and being shaped, when distended, to engage the internal surface of said shell for support thereby said bag being formed with an edge portion defining an inlet opening;

conduit means adapted to be mounted on the shell at an opening therein and having coupling means for connection to a source of inflation gas for distending the bag and, subsequently, for filling said bag, said conduit means providing at least two separate passageways of which one is adapted for connection to a source of said fluent material and the other is in direct communication with an upper part of said bag when distended;

means sealing said bag edge to said conduit means;

means for discharging gas from the space between the shell and the bag; and

means for conditioning and circulating said fluent material introduced into the bag.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said shell having upper and lower head assemblies and manueverable to an upright position and a rotated position, said positions characterized by the attitude of the longi tudinal axis of said shell being substantially vertical when the shell is in the upright position and substantially horizontal when the shell is in the rotated position. an external portion of said conduit means located immediately outside of said shell and situated adjacently to a shell wall and substantially at said upper head assembly, said means for discharging gas being at a position displaced from said external portion of said conduit means, whereby said material can be discharged by gravity by manuevering the shell to said rotated position to relocate said external portion to 21 p sition below that occupied by the latter when said shell is in said upright position.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said shell has an upright position and is formed with said opening at the top thereof and is formed with an additional bottom opening, and said bag is formed with an additional bottom discharge passage having openable closure means for discharging said material through said bottom opening of the shell when the bottom discharge passage of the bag is opened.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said conduit means comprise hollow tube members formed to have one end located at substantially the bottom of the bag when in operative position, said tube members having lateral openings and means fixed to one end of the members to engage and position the bottom of the bag within said rigid shell.

11. The apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said means for conditioning and circulating said fluent material is insertable into a passageway of said conduit means, said passageway having at least two axially spaced openings.

12. A composite container for nongaseous fluent material comprising:

a rigid shell having an upright position and formed with a top opening;

a bag having a flexible wall and insertable into said shell in a collapsed condition through said top opening, and being shaped, when distended, to en gage the internal surface of said shell for support thereby, said bag being formed with an edge portion defining an inlet opening;

first conduit means and second conduit means adapted to be insertable into said shell through said top opening and being mounted in sealed relation to said top opening;

said first conduit means having coupling means for connection to a source of inflation gas for distending the bag and having an opening communicating with the upper part of the bag when distended;

said second conduit means being mounted in spaced relation to said first conduit means and having an opening communicating with the bottom part of the bag when distended, said second conduit means having coupling means for connection to a source of said fluent material;

said first conduit means having at least two axially spaced openings therein shaped for insertion the rethrough of a device for conditioning said fluent ma terial;

means sealing said edge portion of the bag to said first conduit means and said second conduit means so as to substantially enclose said first conduit means and said second conduit means; and

means for discharging gas from between said shell and said bag as. said bag is distended.

13. The composite container as defined in claim 12 wherein further a material discharging device is connected to said second conduit means at top portion thereof for discharging said fluent material from said bag upwardly toward the top of said bag and through said second conduit means.

14. The composite container as defined in claim 12 wherein further said shell is formed having a bottom opening therein with openable closure means mounted to said shell and positioned to cover said bottom opening for discharging said fluent material through said bottom opening of said shell, and said bag is fabricated to provide a bottom discharge opening and having a bag length so that said bottom discharge opening is located proximate said shell bottom opening when the bag is mounted thereon in operable position.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 13,802,470

DATED .April 9, 1974 INVW W CLARENCE B. COLEMAN H is certified that error appears in the above-Identified patent and that sa|d Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 5, change "11" to =6= Column 1, line 67, change "whell" be ehell-w and Column 7, line 56, change "255 to ====2S5===.

Signed and sealed this 1st day 6? July 1975.

(35213.) Attest:

C. MARSHAL DANN HUT C, ASON Commissicner of Patents Attesting Officer and Trademarks 

1. Method of handling fluent, non-gaseous material which comprises the steps of inserting a flexible bag in collapsed condition into a rigid shell through an opening therein, injecting inflation gas into the bag through conduit means, said conduit means having at least two separate passageways, while exhausting gas from between said bag and shell and thereby distending the bag into engagement with the interior of the shell, and thereafter introducing said material into the distended bag through a first passageway of said conduit means, while exhausting from an upper part of the bag said inflation gas through a second passageway of said conduit means, said inflation gas being displaced by the entering material, and conditioning and circulating said material introduced into the bag to achieve uniformity of said material.
 2. Method as defined in claim 1 wherein said material is discharged from the bag by opening the bottom of the bag while the top thereof is closed, and discharging the material from the bag by gravity.
 3. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said step of circulating is performed by agitating said material.
 4. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said step of circulating is performed thermally by changing the temperature of said material.
 5. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein further said material is aerated by admitting aerating gas through said conduit means to the bottom of the bag and discharging said aerating gas together with said material to achieve a Free-flowing state of said material.
 6. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said step of circulating is provided by injecting circulation gas through a second conduit means into the bag, bubbling said circulation gas throughout said material, and releasing the circulation gas through a vent formed in the top of the bag and said rigid shell.
 7. Apparatus for handling non-gaseous fluent material comprising: a rigid shell formed with at least one opening in a wall thereof; a bag having a flexible wall and insertable into said shell in collapsed condition through said opening and being shaped, when distended, to engage the internal surface of said shell for support thereby, said bag being formed with an edge portion defining an inlet opening; conduit means adapted to be mounted on the shell at an opening therein and having coupling means for connection to a source of inflation gas for distending the bag and, subsequently, for filling said bag, said conduit means providing at least two separate passageways of which one is adapted for connection to a source of said fluent material and the other is in direct communication with an upper part of said bag when distended; means sealing said bag edge to said conduit means; means for discharging gas from the space between the shell and the bag; and means for conditioning and circulating said fluent material introduced into the bag.
 8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said shell having upper and lower head assemblies and manueverable to an upright position and a rotated position, said positions characterized by the attitude of the longitudinal axis of said shell being substantially vertical when the shall is in the upright position and substantially horizontal when the shell is in the rotated position, an external portion of said conduit means located immediately outside of said shell and situated adjacently to a shell wall and substantially at said upper head assembly, said means for discharging gas being at a position displaced from said external portion of said conduit means, whereby said material can be discharged by gravity by manuevering the shell to said rotated position to relocate said external portion to a position below that occupied by the latter when said shell is in said upright position.
 9. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said shell has an upright position and is formed with said opening at the top thereof and is formed with an additional bottom opening, and said bag is formed with an additional bottom discharge passage having openable closure means for discharging said material through said bottom opening of the shell when the bottom discharge passage of the bag is opened.
 10. The apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said conduit means comprise hollow tube members formed to have one end located at substantially the bottom of the bag when in operative position, said tube members having lateral openings and means fixed to one end of the members to engage and position the bottom of the bag within said rigid shell.
 11. The apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said means for conditioning and circulating said fluent material is insertable into a passageway of said conduit means, said passageway having at least two axially spaced openings.
 12. A composite container for nongaseous fluent material comprising: a rigid shell having an upright position and formed with a top opening; a bag having a flexible wall and insertable into said shell in a collapsed condition through said top opening, and being shaped, when distended, to engage the internal surface of said shell for support thereby, said bag being formed with an edge portion defining an inlet opening; first conduit means and second conduit means adapted to be insertable into said shell through said top opening and being mounted in sealed relation to said top opening; said first conduit means having coupling means for connection to a source of inflation gas for distending the bag and having an opening communicating with the upper part of the bag when distended; said second conduit means being mounted in spaced relation to said first conduit means and having an opening communicating with the bottom part of the bag when distended, said second conduit means having coupling means for connection to a source of said fluent material; said first conduit means having at least two axially spaced openings therein shaped for insertion therethrough of a device for conditioning said fluent material; means sealing said edge portion of the bag to said first conduit means and said second conduit means so as to substantially enclose said first conduit means and said second conduit means; and means for discharging gas from between said shell and said bag as said bag is distended.
 13. The composite container as defined in claim 12 wherein further a material discharging device is connected to said second conduit means at top portion thereof for discharging said fluent material from said bag upwardly toward the top of said bag and through said second conduit means.
 14. The composite container as defined in claim 12 wherein further said shell is formed having a bottom opening therein with openable closure means mounted to said shell and positioned to cover said bottom opening for discharging said fluent material through said bottom opening of said shell, and said bag is fabricated to provide a bottom discharge opening and having a bag length so that said bottom discharge opening is located proximate said shell bottom opening when the bag is mounted thereon in operable position. 